The numbers are staggering-76 MotoGP wins, 14 victories at the Isle of Man, 10 World Championships-but the most storied of "Mike The Bike" Hailwood’s achievements may be his 1978 victory in the Formula 1 class at the Isle of Man TT. Ending an 11-year absence from motorcycle racing, the 38-year-old Hailwood stunned the world on a Sports Motorcycles Ducati 900TT1 (read about Alan Cathcart’s ride on the 900TT1 in our Aug/Sept 2007 issue).

Why invest U.S. currency in Italian metal? That is the $30,000 question, and frankly there is no entirely rational answer. One thing is sure, however. If you have even the slightest leaning toward Italian machinery, just one look at the Benelli Tornado headed your way will send logic and sound reasoning scrambling for higher ground. (Click image to enlarge)

“We lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies,” thus spake Jack Kerouac in 1957’s On the Road. That same year, Harley-Davidson gave pilgrims a soon-to-be-classic motorcycle to lean forward on—the venerable Sportster, which celebrates its golden jubilee in 2007 with a 2,000-run Limited Edition 1200cc tribute. A serialized nameplate and a gold badge on the tank are among many touches that commemorate Harley’s versatile classic.